Susan took her time driving through the city. While she loved her life in Iowa, there were still things she missed about Chicago. She drove down Michigan Avenue, along the lake shore, by the park, the museums and even past the ambulance bay at County. She saw Chuny and Neela heading in to work from the el station. Fortunately, they hadn't seen her. She didn't know if she was up to a real visit to the old haunt quite yet. Sometime soon...but not quite yet.
Finding their new home wasn't difficult. Susan parked her car and made her way up the steps to the front door of the building. A doorman buzzed the apartment and then let Susan in.
Luka was waiting for her with their door open. He looked tired but was grinning broadly and held a tiny wrapped bundle at his shoulder.
"Where is your niece?" he asked.
"Probably making her grandfather crazy teaching him how to make 'vegan' pancakes," Susan laughed. "Come on, Kovac. Hand her over!" Luka grinned even wider and carefully shifted the baby into Susan's waiting arms. He led her into the apartment and toward a carved wooden rocker by the front window. Susan sat down and took a moment to look at the baby in her arms.
"Ooohhh...my god," she sighed. "She is...beautiful." Luka leaned over and tucked the blanket away from the baby's folded hands and sighed. Susan took note of the splint on his little finger.
"What happened there?" she asked. Luka shrugged.
"It's broken," he said. 'No big deal." His eyes met Susan's and he chuckled happily. She shook her head and grinned. The baby slept peacefully but wrinkled her straight dark brows when Susan ran a finger through the long, whispery soft hair that fell across her forehead. Then there was a pout. The brows and hair were all Luka...but the pout was pure Abby. Susan giggled softly.
"Where's Abby?" she whispered. Luka looked up suddenly.
"I forgot. She's in the shower," he said. "I'll go see if she needs some help and then it's my turn." He pressed a kiss to the baby's head and then was gone. Susan giggled and shifted the baby so she could look at her more closely.
"Hello, Miss Lauren," she said softly and played with the lace collar on the pink sleeper. ""I am Aunt Susan. You and I need to have a very serious talk about your Dad. He is totally besotted with you and you must learn to take advantage of that very carefully." Susan pressed a gentle kiss to the baby's cheek and took a good, long whiff of the enchanting new baby smell. She tucked the baby back into her elbow and rocked slowly.
"Getting acquainted?" Abby asked as she came out of the bedroom in her bathrobe. Susan looked up at her and grinned.
"Damn, you do good work," she said. Abby laughed and pulled a chair from the table next to the rocker. She sat down and smiled at her daughter tucked into Susan's arms. Susan looked up suddenly and laughed.
"You broke his finger?" she asked. Abby rolled her eyes and nodded. Susan giggled again.
"That's what I call a pay back," she said. Susan leaned back and sighed.
"Oh...I envy you right now," she said. "I could just sit here all day and hold her. Enjoy it, Abby. It doesn't last long."
"How are things going with Susie?" Abby asked. Susan shrugged and continued to rock.
"Okay, I guess," she said. "It's a little weird though. She doesn't seem to be grieving or anything. I mean, Joe was her primary care giver for the last four years and she hasn't said a word about him."
"And then you appear out of no where and whisk her off to Iowa," Abby said. "Any reactions to that?" Susan shook her head.
"None," she said. "'Unless you want to count the technicolor hair job but I am not sure if that's something new or something she has always had. And then there's the tattoo..." She looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms. "...the likes of which you are NEVER go to have by the way." Abby laughed and Lauren's lips started to quiver.
"Uh oh..." Susan sighed. "I think my little taste of heaven is over. Wanna switch?" Abby nodded and stood up carefully. Susan let her settle in the rocker and then reluctantly handed her the crying baby. Abby opened the front of her robe and guided Lauren to a full breast. Susan grinned as the crying stopped immediately. She reached for one of the clean cloths stacked on a table nearby and handed it to Abby. Abby tucked it under the baby's chin and then folded her robe closer around them both.
"See...you were so worried about all this and you're a natural!" Susan exclaimed softly. Abby chuckled.
"It's been two whole days, Susan.".
"One step at a time, sweetie," Susan said as she settled in her chair to watch the baby nurse. "One step at a time."